Can pregnant women use artificial sweeteners?

Artificial sweeteners are low-calorie substitutes for sugar. These substances are 30–8,000 times more effective in sweetening than sugar, so they are often used in relatively small amounts.

Sugar contains about 4 calories per gram while artificial sweeteners seem to contain no calories. Some artificial sugars pregnant women can use are Sugar Free, Equal, Splenda ...

Benefits of artificial sugars during pregnancy

Artificial sweeteners help with weight loss and control diabetes. Due to being lower in calories than sugar and other natural sweeteners, artificial sugars can help keep you away from obesity. In addition, it also helps maintain the sugar level in the body, control diabetes , heart and brain related diseases. Not only that, they are also very teeth-friendly, limiting the growth of reproductive bacteria and reducing the risk of oral diseases.

If consumed in moderation, the use of artificial sugars during pregnancy is perfectly acceptable. More importantly, if you have diabetes, blood pressure ... then the use of sweeteners like sugar, honey , maltose, fructose, sucrose ... can harm you and your baby. Therefore, you should use substances without nutrients.

Artificial sweeteners are safe for pregnant women

1. Aspartame

Moderate use of aspartame is considered safe for pregnant and lactating women. However, if you have rare liver diseases, Phenylcetonuria (a genetic disorder that causes the loss of phenylalanine metabolism), you should not use Aspartame to limit the adverse effects on the fetus.

2. Acesulfame potassium

Dried foods (cookies, cakes), desserts , drinks, and puddings often contain the artificial sweetener acesulfame potassium. This type of sugar poses no risks to the user.

3. Sucralose

This substance is considered safe for pregnant and lactating women. The advantage of this artificial sugar is that it contains no calories, so it does not affect blood sugar. Some of the products that often contain this sweetener are cakes, candies, jams, non-alcoholic beverages ...

Artificial sweeteners that pregnant women should avoid

In addition to the above list, there are other names that you should avoid while pregnant as they can be harmful to both you and your baby.

1. Cyclamate

Cyclamate often causes cancer, so its use is prohibited. With its high toxicity, cyclamate is not suitable for pregnant women and women who are breast-feeding.

2. Stevia

This sweetener is produced from a shrub in South America. Pregnant and lactating women should not take stevia. Most often, stevia is used as a supplement, not as a sweetener.

3. Saccharin

Saccharin is considered unsafe for pregnant women because this sweetener can cross the placenta and accumulate in fetal tissues, negatively affecting the health of both you and your baby. In addition, it is also considered to be a cause of bladder cancer .

Note

If you are pregnant or breastfeeding , you should consult your doctor before using artificial sweeteners. If you're feeling nervous, use natural sweeteners like honey .

In general, if you use an artificial sweetener in moderation, its use during pregnancy is perfectly acceptable. However, to avoid unnecessary risks to both you and your baby, it's best to avoid using it. Also, remember to maintain a nutritious diet during this stage to keep the delivery process safe.